The Tristate Area is going to be well represented on this year’s USA 18U Youth Men’s Basketball Team in the upcoming Pan American Maccabi games in Chile. The games will take place December 26, 2015 through January 6, 2016.

The squad will be coached by Evan Pickman. Coach Pickman began his coaching career 20-plus years ago with Herb Brown, the son of Hall of Fame NBA coach Larry Brown. Coach Pickman is currently in his third year as the Varsity coach of Heschel in New York City. The 18U team is unique in that there were no official tryouts. Many of the nation’s top players applied, but the eventual team was selected by Coach Pickman.

Coach Pickman told JLNJ that the twelve man roster is composed mostly of local kids who play in yeshiva leagues so they do not have to worry about taking the boys away from traditional holiday tournaments. The one exception is 6’3 point guard Daniel Tzion, from YULA, Yeshiva, Los Angeles, California. Pickman saw Tzion play in last year’s Sarachek Tournament and was awed. According to Pickman “Tzion has the game to play for a top Ivy League school, but will be taking his skills to Yeshiva University in the fall.”

Yeshiva University Head Coach Elliot Steinmetz is no stranger to the Maccabiah games; two summers ago he coached the USA youth men’s gold medal basketball team. Coach Steinmetz has volunteered to serve as the chairman of the USA Team and is working to raise funds to assist in covering the cost and expenses associated with the training camp and trip for the youth players that will be competing.

Maccabi USA is the sponsor of the USA Team to the World Maccabiah Games held every four years in Israel as well as International Games held in Australia, Europe and the upcoming Games in Chile. These Games are more than Olympic-style competitions for Jewish athletes from around the world. This is an experience that touches the heart and soul of everyone who participates. It is not a feeling that abruptly fades away at the conclusion of the competition. Rather it changes lives.

The experience and all that it represents is dependent upon the generosity of others. The Maccabi team is seeking donations to subsidize their costs. For more information visit

http://support.maccabiusa.com/site/TR/Games/MaccabiTeamRaiser?px=1005881&pg=personal&fr_id=1040.